MEADVILLE, Pa. (Dec. 9) – The Waynesburg University men's basketball team traveled north to tangle with Allegheny on Saturday. The Yellow Jackets led for the majority of the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) contest, but a 12-4 game-ending run by the Gators turned a one-point Waynesburg edge into a 61-54 triumph for the host squad.
 
Waynesburg (4-5, 2-4) opened its most recent contest with back-to-back baskets by senior Antone Baker (Maple Heights, Ohio / Maple Heights) and junior Jordan McLoyd (Johnson City, Tenn. / Science Hill). Allegheny (4-6, 3-3) rebounded with the next five to create the first of 17 lead changes in a back-and-forth affair.
 
After almost 20 minutes of jockeying for control throughout the first half, Waynesburg trailed 29-28 with 1:10 remaining until halftime. A Baker field goal edged his team ahead 30-29. Junior PJ Suggs (Twinsburg, Ohio / Twinsburg) connected on one-of-two foul shots to make the tally 31-29, which was also what was displayed on the scoreboard at halftime.
 
The Jackets built their largest lead of the evening (43-36) after scoring 12 of the half's first 19 points. A trey by McLoyd put his squad up by seven 3:47 into the period.
 
The Gators responded to Waynesburg's challenge with a 9-1 run to take a 45-44 edge with 11:47 remaining in the game. Momentum swung back into the Jackets' favor thanks to back-to-back field goals from senior Jansen Knotts (Ridgeley, W.Va. / Frankfort) and junior Korey Mitchum (McHenry, Md. / Southern Garrett).
 
Trailing by three, the Orange and Black got a clutch 3-pointer from McLoyd with just under two minutes remaining in the contest. With the score tied at 53-53 and 59 seconds left in the game, Allegheny determined the ultimate outcome of the game by tallying eight of the final nine points of the day, a half-dozen of which came from a perfect six-for-six effort at the foul line.
 
McLoyd led Waynesburg with 14 points on five-of-nine shooting from the floor. He added five rebounds and three steals to his day's work. Suggs scored 10 points and pulled down four boards.
 
Baker paced the Jackets on the board with six to go along with eight points.
 
Both teams shot 22-54 from the floor, with Allegheny making one more from 3-point range (5-4).
 
The Jackets are off all of next week for final exams. They return to action by hosting Hood in a non-PAC battle on Tuesday, Dec. 19. Tipoff from the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse is scheduled for 1 p.m.